Sole Structure With Magnetic Cushion

ABSTRACT

A sole structure with magnetic cushion includes an outsole; a midsole main body located on a top of the outsole and having a recess formed at a heel portion thereof; a magnetic cushion positioned in the recess of the midsole main body; a foam rubber layer located on a top of the midsole main body to sandwich the magnetic cushion between the foam rubber layer and the midsole main body; and an insole located on a top of the foam rubber layer for directly contacting with a user&#39;s foot. The magnetic cushion includes sequentially laminated first magnetic element, foam rubber spacer, and second magnetic element, and the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are arranged with their poles of the same polarity facing toward each other, so that a magnetic repulsion is existed between the first and second magnetic elements to provide good buffering and cushioning effect.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sole structure with magnetic cushion, and more particularly to a sole structure having a magnetic elastic structure provided at a heel portion thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A conventional sole is often provided at a heel portion thereof with an elastic cushion. When a downward pressure from a user's heel is exerted onto the sole, the elastic cushion, due to a compression resistance thereof, is able to absorb the instantaneous downward pressure to achieve a buffering effect.

The conventional sole is usually made of a foam rubber to achieve the cushioning and buffering effect. However, due to an inherent limitation of the foam rubber material, the conventional sole fails to effectively provide sufficient buffering effect for a user to walk or jump comfortably, and does not have the function of providing the user with an enhanced jumping ability at all.

There is another type of conventional sole that adopts an air cushion structure to provide the buffering effect. However, the air cushion structure, when having been used over a period of time, tends to blow out to result in unstable structure or even invasion of water, and finally loses its elasticity and accordingly, the shock-absorbing function thereof.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a sole structure with magnetic cushion, which is able to provide improved buffering effect to increase a user's comfortableness in wearing shoes and give the user good jumping ability.

To achieve the above and other objects, the sole structure with magnetic cushion according to the present invention includes an outsole; a midsole main body located on a top of the outsole and having a recess formed at a heel portion thereof; a magnetic cushion positioned in the recess of the midsole main body; a foam rubber layer located on a top of the midsole main body to sandwich the magnetic cushion between the foam rubber layer and the midsole main body; and an insole located on a top of the foam rubber layer for directly contacting with a user's foot. The magnetic cushion includes sequentially laminated first magnetic element, foam rubber spacer, and second magnetic element, and the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are arranged with their poles of the same polarity facing toward each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a midsole main body, a magnetic cushion, and a foam rubber layer included in a sole structure according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the magnetic cushion in the sole structure of the present invention; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the structure of the sole structure of the present invention and the use of the present invention in a shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Please refer to FIGS. 1 and 3 at the same time. A sole structure with magnetic cushion according to the present invention is generally denoted by a reference numeral 301 and includes an outsole 302, a midsole main body 101, a magnetic cushion 103, a foam rubber layer 107, and an insole 303. As can be clearly seen from FIG. 1, the midsole main body 101 is formed at a heel portion thereof with an open-topped recess 105, in which the magnetic cushion 103 is positioned. The foam rubber layer 107 is located on a top of the midsole main body 101 to seal the magnetic cushion 103 in the recess 105 of the midsole main body 101.

Referring to FIG. 2, which is a sectional view of the magnetic cushion 103. As shown, the magnetic cushion 103 is a laminated structure including three layers, namely, a first magnetic element 201, a foam rubber spacer 205, and a second magnetic element 203. The first magnetic element 201 and the second magnetic element 203 are arranged with their poles of the same polarity facing toward each other. That is, the first magnetic element 201 and the second magnetic element 203 are arranged with the positive poles or the negative poles faced toward each other, so that a magnetic repulsion is existed between them. The first magnetic element 201 and the second magnetic element 203 are Nd—Fe—B magnets. The Nd—Fe—B magnet is a rare earth permanent magnet with intense and long-lasting magnetism. In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, the first magnetic element 201 and the second magnetic element 203 are rectangular flat bodies each having a thickness or height of about 2˜4 mm and a rectangular surface with a length breadth ratio of about 1:4 and an area ranging from 100 to 2000 mm². Wherein, the sole structure of the present invention provides the best possible cushioning effect when the first and second magnetic elements 201, 203 each have an area of 400 mm². With the above arrangements, the magnetic repulsion existed between the first and the second magnetic element 201, 203 of the magnetic cushion 103 is able to provide sufficient buffering and cushioning capacity when the magnetic cushion is subject to pressure. Therefore, the sole structure with magnetic cushion of the present invention is able to provide required softness to protect a user' feet against injury when a user walks or jumps. Moreover, the foam rubber spacer 205 is formed on one surface with a plurality of evenly distributed and spaced raised portions as shown in FIG. 2, so that a plurality of air spaces 207 is formed between adjacent raised portions. The raised portions of the foam rubber spacer 205 have tops in contact with the first magnetic element 201. Alternatively, the foam rubber spacer 205 may be arranged upside-down with the tops of the raised portions in contact with the second magnetic element 203. The air spaces 207 have air contained therein to also provide an impact-buffering effect. When the foam rubber layer 107 is fixedly covered onto the midsole main body 101, the magnetic cushion 103 is immovably sandwiched between the foam rubber layer 107 and the midsole main body 101.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing the outsole 302, the midsole main body 101, the magnetic cushion 103, the foam rubber layer 107, and the insole 303 that together form the sole structure 301 of the present invention, and the use of the sole structure 301 in a shoe. The sole structure 301 of the present invention may be used with various types of shoes. Unlike the conventional sole structures made of foam rubber or adopting an air cushion structure, the sole structure with magnetic cushion according to the present invention properly provides effective and long-lasting cushioning and buffering effect and sufficient softness. Therefore, shoes with the sole structure of the present invention are more comfortable to wear and provide the wearer with an enhanced jumping ability.

The present invention has been described with a preferred embodiment thereof and it is understood that many changes and modifications in the described embodiment can be carried out without departing from the scope and the spirit of the invention that is intended to be limited only by the appended claims. 

1. A sole structure with magnetic cushion, comprising: an outsole; a midsole main body being located on a top of the outsole, and having a recess formed on a heel portion thereof; a magnetic cushion being positioned in the recess of the midsole main body and being a laminated structure having a first magnetic element, a foam rubber spacer, and a second magnetic element; the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element being arranged with their poles of the same polarity facing toward each other; and each of the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element being a rectangular flat body having a rectangular surface with a length breadth ratio of about 1:4; a foam rubber layer located on a top of the midsole main body to sandwich and seal the magnetic cushion between the foam rubber layer and the midsole main body; and an insole located on a top of the foam rubber layer for directly contacting with a user's foot.
 2. The sole structure with magnetic cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are Nd—Fe—B magnets.
 3. The sole structure with magnetic cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first magnetic element and the second magnetic element are arranged with their positive or negative poles facing toward each other.
 4. The sole structure with magnetic cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rectangular surface of the rectangular flat body has an area ranging from 100 to 2000 mm².
 5. The sole structure with magnetic cushion as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rectangular surface of the rectangular flat body has an area of 400 mm².
 6. The sole structure with magnetic cushion as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rectangular flat bodies of the first and the second magnetic element each have a thickness of about 2˜4 mm. 